PLC Dispute Resolution professional support team

Raichel Hopkinson was a partner in the dispute resolution department at Denton Wilde Sapte (now SNR Denton) for five years, specialising in commercial litigation and arbitration. Raichel joined PLC as the head of Dispute Resolution in January 2010. Raichel is currently a non-practising solicitor.

Karen Maxwell practised at the bar for ten years from 20 Essex Street, appearing in cases at all levels from the House of Lords down. She specialises in arbitration and has co-written three editions of a well-received book on arbitration law, Ambrose & Maxwell, London Maritime Arbitration, published by Lloyd's of London Press. Karen joined PLC Dispute Resolution in February 2006 and is head of Arbitration. Karen is currently a non-practising barrister.

Beverley Barton qualified as a solicitor in 1993. She trained at Linklaters, where she stayed for six years following qualification, working on a wide range of general commercial litigation cases, including a number involving competition law issues. Subsequently, at CMS Cameron McKenna and Arnold & Porter, she practised as a litigator in a team specialising in pharmaceuticals-related work, and gained valuable trial experience on cases including Re Medicaments, the last ever case in the Restrictive Practices Court. In 2005, she moved to the role of litigation Professional Support Lawyer: first at Eversheds, and then at Bond Pearce. She joined PLC as an Editor in the Dispute Resolution team in October 2008. Beverley is currently a non-practising solicitor.

Martha Castaneda Wilcox qualified as a solicitor in 2004 with Herbert Smith (now Herbert Smith Freehills LLP) where she specialised in insurance and reinsurance litigation. She has worked on a wide range of disputes including professional negligence claims against insurance brokers and solicitors, and insurance and reinsurance coverage disputes relating to business interruption, employers' liability and directors' & officers' insurance. She joined PLC Dispute Resolution in June 2012 from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP. Martha is currently a non-practising solicitor.

Emma Chown qualified as a solicitor in 1992 having trained at Frere Cholmeley Bischoff (now Eversheds), where she stayed for five years following qualification, working in the commercial litigation department. In 1997 Emma joined Richards Butler (now Reed Smith) as the first professional support lawyer in the commercial litigation department. She played an important role in developing their award-winning know-how database. She joined PLC Dispute Resolution from Richards Butler in March 2006. Emma is currently a non-practising solicitor.

Janet Currier qualified as a solicitor in 1998 having trained at CMS Cameron McKenna. On qualification Janet joined CMS Cameron McKenna's banking and international finance team, where she specialised in contentious corporate recovery and banking litigation. She joined PLC Dispute Resolution from CMS Cameron McKenna in February 2006. Janet is currently a non-practising solicitor.

Stephen Down is an Assistant Editor for the PLC Contentious team, after having originally joined PLC in August 2010 as a Paralegal. He graduated in 2007 from the University of Southampton with a degree in Law and then completed the LPC at the College of Law in July 2008 with a Distinction. He has also undertaken voluntary legal work experience, which involved dealing with a variety of areas including probate and employment.

Kate Hurford is a former solicitor and a consultant with PLC Dispute Resolution. She qualified as a solicitor in South Australia in 1993 and was subsequently admitted to practice in Hong Kong and England and Wales. She has had extensive experience in commercial litigation, working for Piper Alderman in Adelaide, Australia and then for Herbert Smith (now Herbert Smith Freehills LLP) in Hong Kong and, from 1999 to 2009, for Herbert Smith's London office.

Claire Lipman qualified in 1994. She trained at Paisner and Co (now Berwin Leighton Paisner), where she worked for some 13 years in their dispute resolution department. In addition to practising in all areas of general commercial litigation, Claire specialises in international arbitration and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. She has contributed a chapter in ADR and Commercial Disputes, published by Sweet and Maxwell. Claire joined PLC Dispute Resolution in July 2007. Claire is currently a non-practising solicitor.

Jo Luker qualified in 1993 with Herbert Smith (now Herbert Smith Freehills LLP), where she worked on a range of commercial litigation and arbitration disputes. In 2000 she joined Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer as a practice development lawyer providing professional support to the firm's litigation and international arbitration lawyers. Jo co-authored the "Global Overview" chapter of Arbitration World (2004), a multi-jurisdictional guide for arbitration practitioners. Jo joined PLC Dispute Resolution in October 2006. Jo is currently a non-practising solicitor.

Suzie Noble graduated from Bournemouth University with an LLB Honours Degree in Business Law in 2000 and has worked as a paralegal for Denton Wilde Sapte (now SNR Denton) and Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (now Clyde and Co). Suzie worked at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for over five years, firstly as a professional support paralegal for the litigation team and then as a practice development executive for the international arbitration team. Suzie joined PLC Dispute Resolution in August 2008 as an Assistant Editor, specialising in arbitration.

Emily McGonagle trained with Mayer Brown between 2008 and 2010, gaining experience in its corporate and litigation departments. As part of her training, she also undertook secondments to Unilever plc and ICI Paints AkzoNobel. Emily joined PLC Dispute Resolution as an Assistant Editor in September 2010 and is currently a non-practising solicitor.

Warren McIntosh qualified in New Zealand in 1997 and practised as a barrister and solicitor in Auckland before joining the commercial litigation department of Linklaters’ London office in 2000. He moved to Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (now Clyde and Co) in 2004, and, after a year out studying history at King’s College London, joined PLC’s dispute resolution team as an Editor in January 2013. Warren’s practice has included all types of commercial litigation, domestic and international arbitrations, maritime law and professional indemnity, specialising while at Barlow Lyde & Gilbert in defending claims against barristers and solicitors.

Susan Scott qualified as a solicitor in 1992. She trained with Norton Rose and joined PLC Dispute Resolution in February 2006 from Simmons & Simmons, where she was a member of the commercial litigation department, specialising in professional negligence disputes. She has broad litigation experience (including multi-party actions and trials) and has acted extensively for insurers and a wide range of insured professionals. Susan is currently a non-practising solicitor.

Chloe Shanley trained at Winward Fearon LLP (now Maxwell Winward LLP) and specialised in property litigation upon qualification in 2003. She then joined Nabarro LLP in 2007 where she advised large institutional landlords, developers and commercial tenants on all core property litigation matters. Chloe joined PLC in 2010. Chloe is a non-practising solicitor.

Saira Singh qualified as a solicitor in 1994 with Lovell White Durrant (now Hogan Lovells), where she specialised in commercial and insurance litigation and arbitration, with an emphasis on contractual disputes and professional negligence claims. In 2001, she became a professional support lawyer in the dispute resolution practice at Hogan Lovells, covering litigation, arbitration and ADR. She joined PLC Dispute Resolution in May 2009. Saira is currently a non-practising solicitor.

Pia-Cody Styles qualified in 1999, having trained at Travers Smith. She has dealt with a broad range of disputes including claims in the Commercial Court and has taken a number of cases to trial. She joined PLC Dispute Resolution from Travers Smith in April 2006. She is currently a non-practising solicitor.

Lucy Swallow qualified in 2002. She trained and worked at Norton Rose for six years in their commercial dispute resolution team working primarily on insurance and reinsurance disputes and professional negligence claims. She moved to Lanyon Bowdler in Shropshire in 2006 where she worked for six years doing a broad range of civil and commercial litigation for both private and corporate clients. Lucy joined PLC as an Editor in December 2012.